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expansion

  1. Eliminating the Eyesore - Expansion Tank R&D, Part 4: Final Form

    Eliminating the Eyesore - Expansion Tank R&D, Part 4: Final Form

    They say that good things come to those who wait, and we'd certainly say that's the case with the Mishimoto 2016+ Camaro expansion tank. Note that I did not specify "SS" here. This tank also fits on the 2.0T, but we haven't gotten a change to test it out on a V6 model yet, though it should fit. If any V6 owners are local to the Philadelphia area and want to come on by for a test fit so that we can be 100% sure, please reach out!

    We've tested the tank on both of our Camaros, and we've gone through several stages of refinement, ultimately ending up with quite the fine-looking aluminum piece. Oh, and did I mention it's already on Pre-Sale?

    Mishimoto 2016+ Camaro Expansion / Overflow Tank Pre-Sale

    Let's take

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  2. Tanks, But No Tanks - Overflow Tank, Part 1: OEM Review and 3D Models

    Tanks, But No Tanks - Overflow Tank, Part 1: OEM Review and 3D Models

    I have been a big fan of Subaru vehicles for a substantial part of my life, and I have lots of experience with WRXs, but the BRZ (and FR-S) is still very new to me. Not too long ago, one of our engineers had his 2013 Subaru BRZ out in the parking lot, and I asked him to pop the hood so that I might check out the power plant. Have you ever seen an old episode of Scooby-Doo when Shaggy opens a door and jumps about a mile in the air, screaming, having revealed the spooky ghost residing therein? Well, you can call me Shaggy, and here is the ghost:

    BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)
    BRZ Parts (or FR-S Parts)

    Like, zoinks! Look at all that hideous white plastic - nobody wants a haunted Toyobaru, but how on earth would one solve this problem? Who ya gonna call?

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  3. Eliminating the Eyesore. Mishimoto 2016 Camaro Expansion Tank R&D, Part 2: 3D-Printed Prototype

    Eliminating the Eyesore. Mishimoto 2016 Camaro Expansion Tank R&D, Part 2: 3D-Printed Prototype

    Design work and refinement continue with our 2016 Camaro expansion tank. To verify fitment within the constraints of the engine bay, we've 3D printed a prototype in plastic to install on our test vehicle.

    Check out a few shots of this prototype installed!

    Prototype 2016 Camaro coolant expansion tank installed
    Prototype 2016 Camaro coolant expansion tank installed

    The image above shows the tank with a sight tube instead of a sight glass, which we used on our previous 3D models. We are experimenting with both designs to determine which is easier to read and which is going to provide the most durability. Let us know what you think!

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  4. Eliminating the Eyesore. Mishimoto 2016 Camaro Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Stock Tank and Initial Design

    Eliminating the Eyesore. Mishimoto 2016 Camaro Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Stock Tank and Initial Design

    While we were deep in development of various new components for the 2016 Camaro, we received numerous requests for a replacement for the coolant expansion tank. While an upgrade here won't net any horsepower gains or drop fluid temperatures, a replacement tank can certainly improve the appearance of your engine bay.

    Since we are experts in producing innovative aluminum replacement expansion tanks, we decided to tackle the Camaro unit as one of our new projects.

    Stock 2016 Camaro Expansion Tank

    The stock 2016 Camaro expansion tank is quite a unique piece. GM has combined the expansion tank and overflow tank into one unit. If you've ever peeked under the hood of a Cadillac ATS, this unit should look familiar.

    Before designing our own aluminum counterpart, we needed to inspect the stock 2016 Camaro parts and evaluate each of the features.

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  5. Say No to Plastic - Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Initial Design

    Say No to Plastic - Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Initial Design

    Time to dive into yet another Fiesta ST project! This little Fiesta is getting the royal treatment at Mishimoto; over the last few months it has been fitted for numerous upgrades. If you are in the mood for a recap, you can check out some of the other Fiesta posts here on the Mishimoto blog. For now we'll dive right into our development of Mishimoto's expansion tank for the Fiesta ST.

    Stock Expansion Tank

    Here at Mishimoto we feel a certain type of way about plastic. It is not that we have a vendetta against plastic, but we see an area where we can improve upon some of the stock Fiesta ST parts. Plastic expansion tanks in general (or any plastic parts) are more prone to failure than an aluminum part would be. Plastic becomes brittle with age, exposure to elements, and the repeated heat cycles in the engine bay. Replacing the plastic tank with an aluminum one not only looks better, but it also would be less prone to bursting or cracking especially as the

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  6. BMW E46 3-Series Aluminum Expansion Tank, Part 4: Prototype Installation

    BMW E46 3-Series Aluminum Expansion Tank, Part 4: Prototype Installation

    Another update on our E46 expansion tank project! Last time we showed off some images of our prototype unit, noting the numerous precise features we built into our design. This time we are installing the tank in our test vehicle to confirm fitment with the stock shroud and all coolant connection points. In addition, we will check out clearance between the tank and the belt-drive system to ensure appropriate fitment.

    Removing the Stock BMW E46 Expansion Tank

    Stock BMW E46 expansion tank installed
    Stock BMW E46 expansion tank installed

    First we need to remove the stock tank from our test vehicle. As you can see in the image above, the stock fan shroud is the first component to come out before we tackle the expansion

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  7. Mishimoto E46 3-Series Aluminum Radiator R&D, Part 4: Prototype Testing

    Mishimoto E46 3-Series Aluminum Radiator R&D, Part 4: Prototype Testing

    Interested in purchasing our E46 aluminum radiator? Check out our product page linked below!

    We are pretty pumped about our new BMW performance parts! Our prototype radiator looks and fits great, so now let's make sure it performs as well as we intended. As we noted previously, we've made a variety of improvements over the stock core to improve heat transfer and efficiency. Let's take a look at the specs!

    Core Improvements

    BMW E46 radiator coolant surface area comparison
    BMW E46 radiator coolant surface area comparison

    Our first comparison is coolant surface area, which is a measure of the area of the coolant tubes within the core. Greater tube area results in increased heat transfer as well

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  8. E46 3-Series Aluminum Expansion Tank, Part 3: First Prototype

    E46 3-Series Aluminum Expansion Tank, Part 3: First Prototype

    Big news for our E46 followers! Our aluminum prototype of the BMW E46 expansion tank is complete. Gone are the days of roadside tows and antifreeze puddles messing up your driveway. Enjoy the images of our awesome prototype below!

    First Prototype Images

    Mishimoto prototype BMW performance parts
    Mishimoto prototype BMW performance parts

    Mishimoto prototype E46 expansion tank
    Mishimoto prototype E46 expansion tank

    We designed five different CNC-machined pieces to attach to this

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  9. Mishimoto E46 3-Series Aluminum Radiator R&D, Part 3: Prototype Evaluation

    Mishimoto E46 3-Series Aluminum Radiator R&D, Part 3: Prototype Evaluation

    Interested in purchasing our E46 aluminum radiator? Check out our product page linked below!

    Mishimoto BMW E46 Non-M Performance Aluminum Radiator!

    It's been a while since our last update. Don't worry, we have not abandoned our E46 aluminum radiator project. In fact, this may be the most exciting update yet. We are getting closer to bringing you guys a much-needed reliable and efficient radiator solution. Our line of BMW performance parts is growing!

    Prototype Images

    The wait is over! Check out a couple shots of our prototype radiator!

    Mishimoto prototype E46 radiator
    Mishimoto prototype E46 radiator
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  10. BMW E46 3-Series Silicone Intake Boot Development!

    BMW E46 3-Series Silicone Intake Boot Development!

    During the development of our new intake system for the 1999-2005 BMW 3-series, we identified yet another component that would be a vital upgrade as the E46 chassis begins to age (gracefully though, right?). With a lack of support in offerings for a silicone E46 intake boot set, we decided to design a set that would replace the failure-prone stock rubber units. If you've ever owned a BMW (E30, E36, E46, etc.) that utilizes such rubber intake elbows and hoses, you may have experienced failure at some point. Typically the area of flex begins to develop cracks and tears over time. The unmonitored air entry results in a rough running straight-six " not exactly ideal. So let's get to the project!

    Stock Intake Boots

    First, check out the factory-equipped boots!

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